10 Candidates, 10 Visions for the Future of the City’s Changing Core

QUESTION: As Ventura pumps millions of dollars into downtown revitalization, rent prices have begun to edge up and the mix of retailers to change. What is your vision for downtown in coming years? Are you happy with the sidewalks, the queen palms, parking garage and

other amenities? Do you want to see more trendy coffee shops and boutiques? At the expense of thrift shops and antique stores? What about the dive bars and homeless people?

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Brian Brennan

I see downtown as an important cultural and historical center of the city that is serving as a renaissance that will impact the revitalization of other areas such as Midtown and the Ventura Avenue area. I feel that the diversity of the businesses creates the ambience that attracts the community at large in addition to the tourist, which is so important to our economic vitality. My concern is that as we grow and rents increase we will lose the local element. My commitment will be to help local businesses share in the profits associated with a revitalized downtown.

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Mike Osborn

Successful redevelopment will solve a myriad of downtown’s problems, while generating a potentially huge revenue stream. Common-sense projects that would either produce income or in some way provide economic anchors for the community, while encouraging commerce and walking traffic, would be my vision. A Performing Arts Center or Equity Waiver Theater in the Mission area along with an expansion of the museum would be a good start.

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Donna De Paola

My vision for downtown is a quaint “Old Town by the Sea.” My business plan will promote investments in downtown assets; historic architecture, cultural events and diversity of businesses, restaurants, coffeehouses and theaters, with a new parking garage. Part-time businesses, antique stores and bars with low rents will compete or fall to new investors. My survey shows the public wants the basics: pothole repair, clean beaches and streets, and promenade lighting. Homeless services like the Hero Program and garage security need to be funded to make downtown safer.

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Brian Lee Rencher

It appears that the city is attempting to run small, downtown “mom-and-pop” businesses right out of business. The city’s motivation to do this can be explained by the fact that the city’s Redevelopment Agency must pay its line of credit debt back to the city through increases in incremental property taxes. Downtown real estate values cannot materially increase with its present tenants remaining, so the city wants them to leave so that large national retailers can be brought in to replace them. This commercialization process is exemplified by the recent $11-million tax giveaway to Century Theaters.

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Doug Halter

Our downtown is the jewel of the county. It’s not only economically prudent but our obligation to all residents of our city and county that we encourage and help to expedite its restoration. We need to ensure that our historical heritage is preserved while we make room for more businesses and residences. We need a mix of all types of businesses, and housing for residents, that can contribute to the uniqueness of our historic coastal downtown and help to enhance and nurture our cultural potential. Overall, our city’s investment in downtown has helped entice private investors to now contribute.

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Sandy Smith

As a member of the Downtown Specific Plan Committee, I played an integral part in the formation of the public vision and plan that guides our downtown. It was important to invest in an area of our community suffering financial hardship, and the development of a specialty retail and tourist-based strategy was the way to do just that. Now we need to make that same investment and commitment to other parts of our community.

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Jim Monahan

It is very important that we meld the present with the future in any plans for downtown. We need to keep the small-town ambience while fostering new retail businesses and new restaurants with outside dining. I believe that all businesses will benefit from an improved downtown with the additional parking made available with the parking garage. Businesses that could be forced out by increased rent could be zoned into an adjoining area. Our investment in the downtown needs to be protected by good maintenance of our sidewalks, streets, tree trimming and lighting. Panhandling is illegal and will not be tolerated.

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Paul W. Thompson

My vision is for a vibrant and healthy downtown. I like the improvements that have been made; they do make it more attractive. I would be happy to see a few more coffee shops or boutiques, but I don’t want to see the thrift shops and antique shops driven out. They are part of downtown’s character and draw many tourists. I would like to see a broad mix of businesses in the downtown area.

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Carl Morehouse

My vision for downtown is to see through the completion of the Downtown Specific Plan, and not get sidetracked off on some monetary misadventure such as Centerplex. Downtown defines our community. I am quite pleased with the recent downtown improvements. The new theater should be accompanied by restaurants, housing and businesses that will result in a well-balanced, thriving downtown. As for those displaced, it’s an unfortunate matter of economics which occurs in any successful city. We should try and assist the displaced to whatever degree possible.

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Carroll Dean Williams

Downtown became a ghost town after most big businesses moved to the brand-new Buenaventura Mall. For whatever reasons, downtown was severely neglected after that. The expansion of the mall, I firmly believe, will cause a repeat of the “ghost-town” decisions of downtown. I visited Atlanta, Ga. Our city fathers are at “civil war” with Oxnard. Downtown is best to “underground,” i.e., start looking at the larger picture NOW! At the present everyone is “stuck in a rut.”